XR11 TR750 and an XR05 TR500.v SPEEDBLOCKS.

Yamaha tapped into the American-inspired, yellow-and-black speedblock livery that the company has re-adopted to celebrate their 60th Anniversary. That was represented by a Kenny Roberts’ 1977 OW31 TZ750 (raced in F750) and an OW60 YZR 500 he raced to victory in the 1982 Argentine GP. Still in the blue Gauloises livery, though, was Christian Sarron’s YZR500, and in white and red was one of the Yamaha France Paris-Dakar XT500s from 1979. Headlining the stand was Yamaha’s Yard Build competition-winning V-Max ‘V-Speed’ by Liberty Yamaha - also in yellow and black.

2016 YAMAHAS.

New, More Affordable R1S If there is any one downside to the continued evolution of sportbikes it’s cost: The more advanced production motorcycles become, the more expensive they become as well. And while for some that trade-off is justifiable, there are still those consumers who simply aren’t willing to gut their bank account for the exotic materials and technologies that make modern motorcycles the track weapons they are today. For those consumers, Yamaha has introduced its YZF-R1S, which uses cost-effective materials to cut the suggested retail price of the otherwise stellar R1 by $1,500, to “just” $14,990. If your immediate thought is that Yamaha must have taken everything that made the R1 great and thrown it out the door (electronics included), then rest assured that’s not necessarily the case. Instead, with the R1S, Yamaha has gone in and replaced the titanium connecting rods with steel ones and magnesium outer parts and fasteners like the oil pan and right-side engine covers to aluminum ones. Engine cover bolts are now steel instead of aluminum, while wheels are now manufactured from aluminum instead of magnesium and wrapped in Bridgestone Battlax S20 sport tires instead of the R1/R1M’s trackday-intentioned RS10s. The exhaust header piping is also now made from stainless steel rather than titanium. The overall result of all this material swapping is a 9-pound jump in claimed curb weight. The R1/R1M’s MotoGP-inspired electronics package with power modes, traction control, slide control, launch control, and wheelie control goes untouched, though on the R1S, the quickshifter will come as an option rather than as standard equipment. There are a few other changes, including updates to the ECU that are intended to suit the new engine specification. The switch to steel connecting rods from titanium in the R1S means the redline needed to be reduced, the result being slightly less top-end power than the standard R1. Yamaha has yet to quote any numbers, but in published dyno charts (which are devoid of any numbers), it appears that the R1S’s redline is at 12,500 rpm instead of the R1’s 14,000 rpm, with the power loss at the very top around 5 or so horsepower. The R1S is available in either a red/white/ black color scheme or matte gray motif, and the bike is expected to be available beginning in February. New XSR 900 and Updated FJR 1300 The growing “hipster/caf? racer” culture is catching the attention of the OEMs, with Yamaha and its new XSR900 for 2016 being the latest example. The XSR retains the FZ-09’s excellent 847cc crossplane three-cylinder engine and Controlled Filling Die-Cast aluminum frame and swingarm with adjustable KYB suspension but adds styling components and details that harken back to the “heritage, authenticity, and simplicity” of the sporting motorcycles from the ’70s and ’80s. The XSR gets the FZ’s three YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) riding modes, but it also gets a two-level (plus off) traction control system as well as ABS as standard equipment. An assist/ slipper clutch eases lever effort by a claimed 20 percent while also helping to smooth out downshifts. Everything else mechanically (save for suspension settings) is basically identical to the FZ. Ergonomically, the XSR’s 32.7-inch seat height is 15mm higher than the FZ’s, and the rider’s seating position is moved 50mm rearward to make for a slightly more aggressive riding posture. Styling is the XSR’s main focus. There’s plenty of nice metal bracketry and components where plastic or other materials would normally be used. For example, the nice-looking fuel tank cover on the matte gray/ aluminum version (there’s also one in the 60th Anniversary yellow/black traditional Yamaha motif) is a brushed-aluminum piece that Yamaha says has an actual hand-buffed finish. A single round halogen headlight is held by aluminum brackets, and a round LED taillight mounted atop a metal (aluminum) fender replicate the look of the ’70s caf? racer. The seat features burgundy-colored faux suede leather panels and red stitching. The single round instrument gauge recalls the older style in shape, but in function it jumps to present-day technology with a full LCD info panel. All told, the XSR900 comes in 16 pounds heavier than the FZ-09 according to Yamaha, at a claimed 430 pounds full of fuel. The matte gray/aluminum XSR900 will be available in April, while the 60th Anniversary version will be available slightly later this year in May. Also new for 2016 from Yamaha is the latest FJR1300, in both A (standard) and ES (Electronic Suspension) models. The biggest change for both editions is a six-speed transmission replacing the old five-speed, with a slipper/assist clutch. A new LED headlight and taillight along with slightly revised bodywork complete the revisions for the A model, while the ES gets all that plus a new “lean-angle sensitive” cornering LED light setup that uses three LEDs on each side above the quad-element headlights that light up progressively as the bike leans to more effectively illuminate the road ahead in corners. The 2016 FJR will be available in March; no prices for either the new FJR1300 or XSR900 were available at press time.

This is Yamaha S10000R.

YAMAHA ALWAYS SAID there would be larger MTmodels, and that the crossplane-crank inline-four engine fromthe YZF-R1 could be used. Given theMT-07’s twin andMT-09’s triple are ‘crossplane concept’ and called the CP2 andCP3, it would kindamake sense to have an actual crossplanemotor in the range. So here’s the newMT-10. This isn’t just the engine froman R1. Unlike its purposebuilt siblings, and despite promising to be ‘enjoyed on any road, any time and at any speed’, theMT-10 is heavily based on themachine that donates its gravelly, snarling engine. Frame, forks, shock and brakes are nicked fromthe sportsbike (or, to be precise, the slightly lower-spec R1-S that they get in the USA). This is Yamaha’s S1000R. Obviously there are changes. The 998cc engine has different pistons, crank, intake, exhaust and injection for bottom-end balls and midrange might, and revised gearing. Like other MTs there are three ridingmodes, but the MT-10 also has cruise control and threelevel traction. A quickshifter will be optional. The frame has ‘optimised strength/rigidity balance’, with a steel subframe andmodified settings for the suspension, and a stubby 1400mmwheelbase - just 20mm longer than the trim newMT-03. Radial calipers have ABS, and the Bridgestone tyres are specially developed for the bike. You’ll get 17 litres in the tank and there’s a 12v power socket. Colours? Blue, black, or the ‘Night Fluro’ grey with high-vis wheels that’s available across theMT range. Yamaha have trodden this path before. The now-defunct FZ1was based on an R1, but its attitude and revvy delivery made it hard work against rival nakeds of the day. Times change however, and now we’re in the age of the supernaked theMT could be just the job. Yamaha haven’t decided howmuch power or weight to claim, or howmuch it’ll cost. But they do assure us that the new MT-10 will be here in May.